The Larimer County Office of Emergency Management has awarded 19 different communities in Larimer County close to $100,000 in grant funding to support community-driven mitigation projects that reduce risk and improve resilience.  

Now in its 4th year, the Community Mitigation Grant Program provides funding for neighborhoods and communities to tackle projects that help them become better prepared for emergencies and more resilient to them should they occur. When communities and neighborhoods organize efforts at a smaller scale, they achieve higher connectivity and resiliency with each other.

“We are proud of our communities and we’re glad to support these community-driven efforts that empower our neighborhoods to take proactive steps toward community resilience,” said Lori Hodges, Emergency Management Director. “Each of these projects reflects neighbors helping neighbors, with a grassroots approach to building a safer, more resilient Larimer County.”

The awarded projects help fund a variety of projects, including wildfire mitigation and hazardous fuels mitigation, community slash chipping and slash removal programs, and the acquisition of equipment, tools, and supplies for neighborhood tool libraries and community use. All projects also incorporate neighbors working together, with many projects including neighborhood mitigation workdays. 

In addition to the mitigation grants, a separate group of communities has also been identified for assistance for their proposed projects through a partnership with the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative. The $65,000 in awards from the Northern Colorado Fireshed Fund will strengthen partnerships and support wildfire risk reduction and community resilience work.

“The Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative is thrilled to contribute to the expansion of Larimer County’s Community Mitigation Grant program,” said Corrina Marshall, Manager of the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative. “By pooling resources and supporting local leadership in the Fireshed, we’re able to accelerate community resilience in a way that empowers communities to take action at the neighborhood level, supporting the shared stewardship approach to wildfire risk reduction.”

More about the Community Mitigation Program: https://www.larimer.gov/emergency/community-mitigation-grant-program.

More about the Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative and the Northern Colorado Fireshed Fund at: https://nocofireshed.org/